Resilient steering linkage connection



Dec. 1, 1953 J. LATzEN RESILIENT STEERING LINKAGE CONNECTION Filed Aug. l5, 1950 N me wn V mm F n 0 lv Patented DeeI l, 1953 RESILIENT STEERING LINKAGE CONNECTION 1 Josef Latzen, Dusseldorf-Oberkassel, Germany,

assigner to A. Ehrenreich & Cie., Dusseldorf- Oberkassel, Germany, a firm Application August 15, 195o, serial No. 179,539

2 Claims.

My invention relates to steering lever joint devices `for the steering linkage of steering gears, especially for motor vehicles.

Object of the present invention is to provide an improved steering lever joint device keeping shocks and vibrations coming from the wheels away from the steering lever and thus away from the steering rod as well as from the steering wheel, too, without impairing the steering.

In prior art motor vehicle steering devices the shocks and vibrations of the wheels are transmitted by the steering lever to the steering rod and to the steering wheel in a disadvantageous manner. Moreover the wear of the steering gear is considerably increased by shocks and vibrations.

According to the present invention the steering lever joint device avoids the aforesaid disadvantages by providing a shock damping intermediate member interjacent the steering lever and the steering rod. The damping intermediate member is preferably formed by a rubber sleeve the inner face of which encloses one of the parts to be connected whereas its `outer circumferential surface is engaged with the other part to be connected. Such rubber bodies having any substantial flexibility in axial direction absorb shocks and vibrations, however, if strained by shear. Moreover production as well as mounting of a damping intermediate member is easy.

Other advantages obtained will be disclosed hereinafter.

By way of example, the structural features of the steering lever joint device redesigned according to this invention are set forth in the following specification and will be better understood by practitioners from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of device, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a section on line I-I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of another embodiment, partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical View o the steering lever joint device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically a modied embodiment of the steering lever joint device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical View of the steering lever joint device shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically a modified embodiment of the steering lever joint device.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawings the shock a steering lever joint damping intermedlate member consists of a rubber sleeve l enclosing a metal bushing 2 which is mounted within a steering lever 3.

According to the embodiments shown in the Fig. 1, 2, 4, and 5 the rubber sleeve I encloses a bolt 9 linked to a extension 8 of a joint lever 6 forming a part of a joint 4 being connected with a steering rod 5. The steering lever '3 is linked to the joint lever l by a pivot 1. If the steering i rod 5 gets a shock shifting it to the right or to the left side the joint lever 6 swings around the pvot l in the corresponding direction. This swinging motion is transmitted by the extension 8 to the damping intermediate member which absorbs the motion elastically without any reaction to the steering lever 3.

The modified embodiment of the steering lever joint device according to Fig. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 only by a longer joint lever 6 and a shorter extension 8, thus effecting that shocks are transmitted to the damping intermediate member with a smaller amplitude.

As seen in the Fig. 3, 6, and '7 the damping intermediate member forms the direct connection of the steering lever 3 with a joint lever l0 of the joint 4. The shocks of the steering rod 5 acting as'shearing strains are absorbed by the rubber sleeve l.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, which is especially suitable for heavy trucks, the joint lever l is provided with two arms. The steering lever 3 has a fork I I each leg of which is connected by means of a damping intermediate member with one arm each of the joint lever I0.

Various structural changes and modifications may be made in steering lever joint devices for the steering linkage of steering gears, especially for motor vehicles redesigned as shown and described, without departing from the spirit and the salient ideas of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A steering mechanism for a motor vehicle 'which includes a steering lever and a steering rod, and buffer means arranged intermediate said steering lever and said steering rod comprising thrust absorbing telescoping members having a rubber sleeve disposed intermediate the opposing surfaces thereof, wherein the linkage between the steering rod joint and the steering lever is by way of a member in the form of a double armed lever having one arm pivotally connected to said steering rod joint, the other arm in yielding engagement with said steering lever by way of said rubber sleeve member, and

wherein a portion intermediate said arms is connected to an end of said steering lever.

2. A steering mechanism for a motor vehicle which includes a steering lever, a steering rod, and buier means comprising thrust absorbing telescoping Y members disposed between said steering'le'ver and. saill` steering roei; wherein the linkage between the steering rbd andthe steer'- ing lever is by way 0f a member in the form of a double armed lever having one arm pivotallyconnected to said steering rod, the other am in yielding engagement with said steering leverby Way of said thrust absorbing telescoping members, and wherein a portion intermediate' sa' References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number m Number arms is connected to an end of said/st'eeringlever.- 15

JOSEF LATZEN.'

Name Date Lord Oct. '14, 1930 Ku11 et a1 Feb. 23, 1932 Utz Jan; 7, 1941 Mosso Feb.. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Oct. 25, 1940 

